NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
262 reports75,000 miles · Mar 23, 2012
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, NECK, BACK AND CHEST. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS M…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, NECK, BACK AND CHEST. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75,000.
NHTSA ODI #10452745
40,000 miles · Mar 12, 2012
Air Bags
THIS PASSAT CONTINUES TO HAVE AIR BAG ISSUES. THE AIR BAG FAULT LIGHT HAS GONE ON MULTIPLE TIMES IN LAST 12 MONTHS. PER THE VW TECH'S, THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON. THE AIR BAGS, WIRES, HARNESSES AND COMPONENTS HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED. AT LAST VISIT TO VW, THEY STATED NOTHING ELSE CAN GO WRONG BECAUSE IT HAS A…
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THIS PASSAT CONTINUES TO HAVE AIR BAG ISSUES. THE AIR BAG FAULT LIGHT HAS GONE ON MULTIPLE TIMES IN LAST 12 MONTHS. PER THE VW TECH'S, THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON. THE AIR BAGS, WIRES, HARNESSES AND COMPONENTS HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED. AT LAST VISIT TO VW, THEY STATED NOTHING ELSE CAN GO WRONG BECAUSE IT HAS ALL BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN FOR SAME REPAIR. THE ABOVE DATE IS AN ESTIMATE. BUT, IT HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR THIS ISSUE BY CURRENT DEALER SINCE 8/11/11. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10451142
100,000 miles · Dec 11, 2011
Electrical System
HERE IS PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING WITH MY 2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE I AM DRIVING THE CAR SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ABOUT THREE TIMES THIS YEAR . IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE IN 3 ACCIDENTS AND TO HAVE TO QUICKLY PULL OFF THE ROAD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED 3 TIMES TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CAR LOCKS DOWN AND …
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HERE IS PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING WITH MY 2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE I AM DRIVING THE CAR SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ABOUT THREE TIMES THIS YEAR . IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE IN 3 ACCIDENTS AND TO HAVE TO QUICKLY PULL OFF THE ROAD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED 3 TIMES TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CAR LOCKS DOWN AND I CANT PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO TOW IT. IT TAKES AN EXPERIENCE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TO GET IN ON A FLAT BED WITH THE WHEELS LOCKED. THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THEY CANT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT AND THEY CAN NOT GET THE CAR TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE, FROM THE FORUMS I HAVE BEEN READING VW TELLS EVERYONE THE SAME THING. I HAVE ALREADY PAID 2000 TO GET THIS CAR FIX AND VW STILL HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT FROM WHAT I AM READING IT SOUNDS LIKE IT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK ISSUE. VW NEEDS TO RECALL THIS, IT NOT MY FAULT THAT THIS CAR HAS THIS ISSUE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. EVERYONE DRIVING THIS CAR LIFE COULD BE AT RISK, THIS CAR SHOULD NOT SHUT OFF AT 70 MILES HOUR WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND YOU... THIS COULD CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT AND IT WOULD BE VW FAULT! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10439303
43,000 miles · Oct 7, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT AIR CONDITIONER QUIT WORKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHERE ALL THE SERVICE HAS BEEN PERFORMED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. THEY CALL AND TELL ME THAT THE COMPRESSOR HAS GONE BAD, AND WHEN IT FAILED IT CONTAMINATED THE WHOLE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, WHICH INCLUDE THE EVAPORATOR, COMPRESSOR AND FLUID AND THAT THEY …
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VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT AIR CONDITIONER QUIT WORKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHERE ALL THE SERVICE HAS BEEN PERFORMED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. THEY CALL AND TELL ME THAT THE COMPRESSOR HAS GONE BAD, AND WHEN IT FAILED IT CONTAMINATED THE WHOLE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, WHICH INCLUDE THE EVAPORATOR, COMPRESSOR AND FLUID AND THAT THEY ALL NEED TO BE REPLACED AND SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE FLUSHED. OUR CAR HAS ABOUT 43000 MILES AND HAS BEEN "IN SERVICE" FOR 4 YEARS AND 3 MONTHS, WHICH IS THREE MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE DEALER SAID THEY HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF THESE REPAIRS. I THINK IT IS WAY TO EARLY FOR THESE COMPONENTS TO FAIL. MY TRUCK IS 10 YEARS OLDER AND STILL HAS ALL THE ORIGINAL AIR CONDITIONING PARTS AND WORK PERFECTLY. I THINK THEY NEED TO RECALL THESE COMPRESSORS AND TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10429150
91,500 miles · Sep 13, 2011
Parking BrakeService Brakes, Hydraulic
WENT TO GO GRAB LUNCH YESTERDAY. AS I PARKED I PLACED THE PARKING BRAKE ON. HOWEVER ONCE I CAME BACK TO THE CAR. THE BRAKE WOULD NOT REMOVE ITSELF. THE SYSTEM KEPT READING PARKING BRAKE FAULT. I HAD TO WAIT THERE UNTIL A TOW TRUNK CAME TO TOW ME TO THE DEALER. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. I HAVE ALSO CAME TO PARK…
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WENT TO GO GRAB LUNCH YESTERDAY. AS I PARKED I PLACED THE PARKING BRAKE ON. HOWEVER ONCE I CAME BACK TO THE CAR. THE BRAKE WOULD NOT REMOVE ITSELF. THE SYSTEM KEPT READING PARKING BRAKE FAULT. I HAD TO WAIT THERE UNTIL A TOW TRUNK CAME TO TOW ME TO THE DEALER. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. I HAVE ALSO CAME TO PARK A FEW TIMES IN THE BRAKE PLACED ITSELF ON. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10425176
29,000 miles · Jul 21, 2011
Suspension
I TOOK MY VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND CHECK UP AND WAS INFORMED THAT I HAVE A BAD FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING, WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO RISK OF THE BEARING LOCKING UP THE WHEEL. THE WHEEL BEARING IS CURRENTLY ON A NATIONWIDE BACK ORDER DUE TO EXCESSIVE DEMA…
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I TOOK MY VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND CHECK UP AND WAS INFORMED THAT I HAVE A BAD FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING, WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO RISK OF THE BEARING LOCKING UP THE WHEEL. THE WHEEL BEARING IS CURRENTLY ON A NATIONWIDE BACK ORDER DUE TO EXCESSIVE DEMAND. THE WHEEL BEARING REPLACEMENT PART WAS RECENTLY MODIFIED DUE TO A KNOWN PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT IS UNKNOWN WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR REPLACEMENT. MY VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT IS A 2007 AND ONLY HAS 29,000 MILES. IT IS UNHEARD OF FOR A WHEEL BEARING TO FAIL WITH MILEAGE THAT LOW, SINCE WHEEL BEARINGS ONLY WEAR OUT DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR (IE 80,000 MILES OR MORE) OR FLOOD. MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A FLOOD AND I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT ALL THE CARS NEEDING REPLACEMENT WHEEL BEARINGS AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A FLOOD. THE WHEEL BEARINGS ARE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY AND THE FACT THAT THEY CANNOT BE REPLACED IN A TIMELY MANNER IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10414032
46,525 miles · Jul 20, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other
EXCESSIVE EXTERNAL CAR NOISE WHILE IDLE. LOUD NOISE IN MOTOR AREA WHEN STARTING CAR. NOTHING CAN BE DONE ACCORDING TO REYDEL VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AND SHREWSBURY VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE AND HAS NOT BEEN HANDLED BY VOLKSWAGEN CORPORATION. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10413755
46,000 miles · May 20, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE HESITATION (OR MISFIRE ISSUE ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP) AND LOSS OF POWER AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA ACTION # EA11002. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS TO TRY AND CORRECT THE ENGINE FAULTS.
NHTSA ODI #10403176
Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2011
Seat Belts
TWO REAR SEAT BELTS IN MY CAR STOP WORKING. I'M CONCERN THAT SINCE THIS CAR IS LESS THEN 5 YEARS OLD, THAT A DEVICE THAT SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR IS MALFUNCTIONING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10395603
53,800 miles · Apr 1, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
FALSE EPC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. WHEN CHECKED BY DEALER, THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND ONLY SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS NEEDED. I WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS A SOFTWARE GLITCH THAT WILL AFFECT THE CORRECT FUNCTIONING OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #10394937
Official recalls
7Oct 30, 2024
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69EG, 69GQ, and 69E6.
Apr 18, 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2007 Volkswagen Passat sedan and wagon vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q8. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-079.
Mar 6, 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q9. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.
Aug 16, 2017
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2016 Volkswagen CC, 2006-2010 Passat and Passat Wagon vehicles. Interruption of electrical power to the fuel pump control module may cause the fuel pump to fail.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump control module, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AE.
Feb 10, 2016
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Dec 12, 2006
ON CERTAIN '6' GENERATION PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DURING HEAVY RAIN DUE TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE ENTERING THE WIPER MOTOR. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE WIPERS CAN BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD LEAD TO REDUCED VISIBILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPECIAL COVER AND SEALING KIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-893-5298.
Dec 12, 2006
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.0L ENGINE WITH 147 KW MAY HAVE A VACUUM LINE THAT MAY FRACTURE AND BECOME DISCONNECTED AT LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE POWER ASSIST CAN BECOME INOPERATIVE, AND THE DRIVER WILL EXPERIENCE INCREASED EFFORT TO APPLY THE BRAKES POSSIBLY INCREASING VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED VACUUM LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-893-5298.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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